Smith's 'Waymaker' hits the Christian Airplay top 10.
Christian music icon Michael W. Smith’s “Waymaker,” featuring Vanessa Campagna and Madelyn Berry, hops 11-8 on Billboard‘s Christian Airplay chart (dated March 21), up by 7% to 7.2 million audience impressions in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
“Waymaker” marks Smith’s fourth Christian Airplay top 10 and the first for both Campagna and Berry.
Smith scores his first non-holiday top 10 since 2004, when “Healing Rain” reached No. 5. He last visited the top 10 in December 2019 with the No. 7-peaking “Silver Bells,” with Amy Grant and Marc Martel. Before that, “Christmas Day,” featuring Mandisa, jingled to No. 2 in January 2008.
A week ago, “Waymaker” reached the top 10 on the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart; this week, it rises 10-9.
“‘Waymaker’ is a very special song that moves people,” Smith previously told Billboard of the composition, written by Osinachi Okoro. “From the first time I played it at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in 2018 to now, it just brings the audience to a very special place. I feel incredibly blessed to help people experience this song and am thankful for all of my friends at radio for helping spread the message.”
Cory Asbury earns his second straight career-opening Christian Airplay top 10, as “The Father’s House” lifts 12-10 (6.9 million, up 16%). Asbury, who is also part of the Bethel Music collective, hit No. 1 with his first solo single, “Reckless Love,” which began a 13-week rule in April 2018.
Plus, on the multi-metric Hot Gospel Songs chart, Jermaine Dolly banks his fourth top 10, as “Pull Us Through,” featuring Maranda Curtis, climbs 12-9, powered by its 6% gain at radio, as it holds at its No. 3 high on Gospel Airplay.
Dolly previously reached the Hot Gospel Songs top 10 with “Serve” (No. 10, 2018), “Come and Knock on Our Door” (No. 9, 2017) and his debut single, “You” (No. 7, 2016).Curtis notches her second top 10 on the tally, following “Nobody Like You Lord,” which rose to No. 5 in January 2019.